Beneficial Insects of the Sacramehto Area



A.K.A. "Good Bugs", "Natural Enemies", "Biocontrol Agents"

You may not always see them, but beneficial insects are working hard to protect your garden. Insect "natural enemies" are beneficial insects that "...kill, decrease the reproductive potential, or otherwise reduce the numbers of..." insect pests. (Natural Enemies Handbook, 1998). Natural enemy insects prey upon or parasitize (lay eggs inside) pest populations, thereby restoring pest levels to insignificant numbers.They are either naturally occurring or are released in the garden.

In the garden, natural enemies are an important means of pest control. They are sometimes easy to miss or are mistaken for "bad bugs". Through strides in the study of Integrated Pest Managment (IPM), which uses monitoring, cultural practices, less toxic pesticides and beneficial insects to manage pest problems, it has been determined that nature tends toward balanced insect populations, including pests. For that reason, it is now considered acceptable to tolerate low to moderate pest levels in the garden since it is often the very presence of a pest that attracts its natural enemies.

By becoming attuned to the presence beneficials in your garden, you can reduce or even eliminate the need for pesticide use. Reducing pesticide use, especially broad-spectrum (i.e. non-selective) insecticides, helps protect your garden's beneficial insect communities. Monitoring and management are key to successful Integrated Pest Management. The UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management website offers monitoring and management practices for home gardeners at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.home.html.

click on photo or insect name for insect profile

Syrphid fly

Ladybird beetle
Praying mantis
 Tachinid fly
Leatherwing Beetle
Note: All photos by Angela Pratt. No insects were posed, pinned, refrigerated or otherwise harmed or manipulated in the making of these photographs.
Location: Sacramento County

What is Integrated Pest Management or "IPM"?
 

To attract beneficial insects to your garden, University of California, Cooperative Extension (UCCE) recommends planting the following:

Baby-Blue-Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Blazing Star (Mentzelia spp.)
Candytuft (Iberis umbellata)
Caraway (Carum carvi)
Clovers (Trifolium spp.)
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)
Goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
Hyssop (Hyssopus officianalis)
Scabiosa (Scabiosa atropurpurea)
Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.)
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

You can also purchase beneficial insects (see resources below)
 

Suppliers of Beneficial Insects in the Sacramento area
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A-1 Unique Insect Control
5504 Sperry Drive
Citrus Heights, California 95621
U.S.A.
Telephone: (916) 961-7945

Retail and wholesale. Formerly Unique Insect Control. Free brochure. Primary source for ladybugs. Earthworms also available. ANBP member.
FAX: (916) 967-7082
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Ladybug Farms
4012 Stephen Drive
North Highlands, California 95660
U.S.A.
Telephone: (916) 348-1917

Retail and wholesale. Expanding business. Gathering & supplying ladybugs since 1975.
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Natural Pest Control
8864 Little Creek Drive
Orangevale, California 95662
U.S.A.
Telephones: (916)726-0855(8-5 7days) (916)923-3353(8-5 M-F) FAXes:(916)726-0855 (916)923-3353

Retail and wholesale. Suppliers of retail packaged beneficials to all kinds of retailers. Supplier of beneficials to consumers and agriculture.
FAXes:(916)726-0855 (916)923-3353
E-mail: natpestco@cwnet.com
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Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
P.O. Box 2209
110 Spring Hill Drive #2
U.S.A.
Telephone: (916) 272-4769

Retail only. Free 125 page catalogue of organic and IPM supplies. ANBP member.
FAX: (916) 272-4794
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California Department of Pesticide Regulation's complete list of
SUPPLIERS OF BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS IN NORTH AMERICA
 
Online Resources:
Recommended Book: